‘Rock of Ages’ Rocks
Sunset Strip. It’s a name with the same sense of magic as that of the city it runs through: Hollywood. New Line Cinema’s release of Rock of Ages brings to theaters nationwide the Broadway stage hit built on the oft-told tale of young people coming to Hollywood in pursuit of a dream – in this case, to be a rock star. Add chemistry to the magic as their quest brings together small-town Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough, whose mastery of dance has earned her recognition as both a dancer and a choreographer) and city-boy Drew Boley (Diego Boneta, a successful singer in real life with gold and platinum records in Latin America, Brazil and Spain).
KIDS FIRST! youth critics Blake Hawes, age 15, and Raven Devanney, age 14, both give the musical a superlative “best” – and single out Tom Cruise for raves as hot rock ’n’ roller Stacee Jaxx. “He just kills in this movie,” says Blake. While Blake describes Cruise’s character as composed of different elements of rock stars from the ’60s and ’70s, Raven sums him up as “an egotistical, wild rocker.”
Check out the full reviews by Blake and Raven on the KIDS FIRST! website, and see why they recommend Rock of Ages for ages mid-teen and up.
Photos: Rock of Ages poster (top), Raven Devanney and Blake Hawes (bottom, left to right)